Viet Nam achieved the highest international tourist arrival growth in the Asia–Pacific region during the first quarter of 2025, surpassing Japan and Palau, according to the United Nations Tourism Organization's World Tourism Barometer released in May.
The country welcomed 10.7 million international visitors in the first six months of 2025, representing a remarkable 21% year-on-year increase and 15% higher than the same period in 2019, with data from the General Statistics Office showing over 6 million arrivals in the first quarter alone—the highest quarterly figure in Viet Nam's history.
China remained the top source market with 2.72 million arrivals (44% increase), followed by South Korea with 2.2 million visitors, while Russia posted the highest growth surge of 239% year-on-year due to resumed direct flights after the Ukraine war suspension.
Viet Nam ranked second globally in international arrival recovery with 34% growth compared to pre-COVID 2019 levels and fourth worldwide in tourism revenue growth with a 29% increase from the previous year, according to the UN Tourism report.
The Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism attributed this success to coordinated promotional strategies, stimulus programs, diversified tourism offerings, and favorable government visa policies, including extended visa exemptions until 2028 for 12 countries and new visa waivers for Poland, Czechia, and Switzerland starting March 1.
